Study Delves into the Demographics of Dental Health

Think of four of your closes friends. Now imagine that at least one of the five of you has an untreated cavity. Not hard to imagine? Now imagine if these odds applied to the entire nation. In a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics suggests that one in five Americans have an untreated cavity. Our Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, will explain some of their interesting findings and what this could mean for you.

Age and Dental Health

The three-year survey followed patients in varying age groups, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses to discover if there is a correlation to dental health and demographics. What they found was that children are more likely to have an untreated cavity than teens. However, more than half of teens have had a root canal treatment or dental crownplaced.

Impoverished Have More Dental Issues

In the realm of socioeconomic status, the results came as no surprise to Dr. Lindsay Robinson, spokeswoman for the American Dental Association, according to CBSNews.com. She says more states are dropping dental care for Medicaid as a way to balance their budget. This means poorer people are twice as likely to have cavities, and 3 out of 5 people living in impoverished areas have experienced adult tooth loss.

Preventive Dentistry

At our Lake Forest dental office, we encourage you to invest in your dental health with preventivedentistry. Regular dental checkups and cleanings can help you prevent the need for more costly restorative dentistry. At a dental checkup, our Lake Forest dentist can remove plaque and tartar buildup, perform an oral cancer screening, and help your avoid gum disease.